Shrublet to 50 cm high, woody with swollen nodes. Leaves linear-oblanceolate, 7–20(–30) x 1–1.5(–2) mm, tip obtuse, fleshy or leathery; stipules 1.5 mm long, reddish with white ciliate margin. Flower heads mostly from axillary shoots, 5–15 mm diam., reddish-brown; peduncle 5–20 mm long, glabrous; bracts broadly ovate, 1–1.6(–2) x 0.6–1 mm, midrib reddish, often recurved. Sepals ovate, 3–3.5 mm long, outer ones ending in 1 mm long spine. Staminodes up to 2 x 0.75 mm, whitish or pale brown; style 0.4–0.5 mm long. Fruit c. 1.5 x 1.25 mm, smooth, dark brown. Seed curved-subglobose.
